Skate



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK J. DOHERTY, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,359, dated June 12, 1883.

Application filed April 14, 1883.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, PATRICK J. Dorrnnry, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chelsea, county of Suffolk, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will.

cog and rack bars.-

This invention relates to improvements in skates; and the novelty consists in the construction of the several parts,whereby the device can be easily and cheaply made, and when in use can be readily adapted to and securely fastened to or removed from the boot or shoe,

all as will now be more fully set out and explained.

In the accompanying drawings, A denotes the fore or toe plate, which comes under the ball of the foot, and B the heel-plate. These plates are attached to the runner C by the forked standards a a and b, which are respectively secured to the under side of the said plates at their tops, and at their other ends to the upper edge of the runner in such of the holes 0 as are adapted for the size of the said plates.

The fore clamps, D, project up on each side of the fore or toe plate, A, and their curved bodies at extend under the said plate and forward to the bar E, to which they'are pivoted. They are slotted at d.

, passing through this slot in each, hold said bodies to the under side of the plate, and are the guide-pins on which the clamps move. This movement is obtained by means of the rack-bar e, the forward end of which is pivoted to the cross-piece E. The free end of said bar extends rearwardlyin a somewhat curved line to the rear end of the plate A, where it passes under the guide-plate a.

The rear heel-clamps, F, are fixed to the plate B; but the movable forward clamp, F,

attached to the rear end of the rack-bar f, pro- The headed pins (1,

' I jects up through the longitudinal slot 1/ of said plate. The said bar f curves somewhat as it extends forward under the guide-plate (6 which is secured underneath the fore or toe plate A in like manner as is the plate a. The fore end of the rack-barf will thus come opposite the rear end of the bar 6, and the free cog-wheel, G, placed between them at this point, will, when moved by its handle y, actuate the said movable fore and heel clamps in the following manner: When the skate is to be used the clamps I) and F may be moved by the hand, so as to open them for the reception of the boot or shoe; or, if the clamp F is held firmly, the movement of the handle of the .cogwheel G will actuate the rack e and open the clamps D. The boot or shoe now being placed in position, and the handle g turned toward the heel, the clamp F comes against the front of the heel, and then the cog is compelled to act on the rack-bar e, and thus the clamps D are closed on the sides of the boot or shoes as tightly as maybe desired. Then the handle g,which has been turnedunder the instep, is secured by its projections g on the upper edge of the runner C. The handle has sufficient spring to it to make this connection secure, but easily removable when desired. By means of the several holes a in the upper edge of the runner any runner is adapted for the reception of plates of sei eral different sizes.

The movable cog-wheel G can be so adapted to the racks as to give the desired movement to the clamps, so as to accommodate differentsized feet and yet allow the handle to be properly secured in place.

The mere form of the standards may be changed, so also the detail of the adjustment of the racks and cog, without in any degree changing the essential idea of my invention.

When not in use it is best to place a piece of wood between the heel-clamps F F, and then by placing the handle on the runner the fixed position of the parts will be maintained.

This device as thus made is very strong, the parts can be made quite light, and the adjustment 011 the boot is sure to be firm, while the parts will not cramp the foot nor injure the boot.

- Having now described my invention, what'l claim is-- 1. In a skate, in combination with the fore and heel plates, the sliding clamps operated by racks extending lengthwise of the skate, and a free cog-wheel, substantially assetforth.

2. In askate, fore and heel clamps operated by means of rack-bars, each connected thereto, respectively, at one end and free at the other, and a cog-wheel whereby said bars have a direct movement lengthwise of the skate, sub stantially as described;

8. In a skate, the combination, with fore plate, A, and pivoted side clamps, D, the rack bar 0, and cog G, of the rack-barf, heel-clamps FF, and plate B, substantially as described. 4. In a. skate, sliding heel and fore clamps, each having a rack, combined with a free cog- I 5 wheel, substantially as described.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK J. DOHERTY. Vitnesses E. C. SOUTI-IARD, C. (q HAYNES. 

